Children\'s Minimum Age to Go Hunting

[cohunter14]

I\'d love to hear everyone\'s opinion on this. What is the youngest age you would take a child hunting with you? We can discuss multiple hunts if you would like, but lets definitely include elk hunting. I grew up always wanting to go hunting with my dad, but had to wait until I was 12 and could get a tag (minimum age in Colorado). I think that is a really good standard for elk hunting. After all, there is a lot of hiking and work that goes into an elk hunt that most kids wouldn\'t be able to handle before that age I wouldn\'t think.

What about other hunts? Our antelope hunts, for example, are mostly driving and glassing until we spot something, and then a quick hike if we decide to put a stalk on them. What age for that hunt? Or goose hunting, where you sit in a pit all day?

Just curious to see what you all experienced growing up and what you have done with your children. I\'m so anxious to get my boys out hunting, but I want it to be at a time where they enjoy it and want to go back.

 

[SGH31]

I agree with 12 or so for an elk hunt.
I think it depends on the kid though for the most part.
Sitting in a blind deer hunting as young as 5 or 6 if i think they are ready.

 

[Ucsdryder]

That is an impossible question to answer without knowing the kid. I remember going on horse back hunting trips at 6 years old. Pushing sage brauh for my dad. I\'ve also hunted with some young adults that shouldn\'t have been outside the asphalt jungle.

 

[cnelk]

Back in the day, it used to be 16 to be able to hunt elk in Colorado, then it was 14, now its 12.

Totally dependent on the kid tho.
Your hunting technique isnt what it is an adult.

I remember when I took my son elk hunting when turned 12.
It turned into a glorified camping trip that included building a fire to warm up and a nap under a tree.

 

[cnelk]

My son shot his first turkey at age 10.
A time that I wont forget!

I think 10 is about right for \'light-weight\' hunting.
The kids have a good grasp of gun safety and logistics

 

[bowhunter]

I took my kids hunting Squirrel at 4 or 5. Deer and turkey at 6-7. My son shot his first deer at 9.
I waited till he was 8 before he started carrying a gun. A 410 shotgun.

I started carrying a gun at 7 and got a tree rat my first year.

An elk hunt can be tough on a kid. Don\'t push them too hard or early or you might push them away from hunting.

 

[Old School]

Both my boys started deer and turkey hunting here in MO at a young age - if I remember correctly it was 7. I took my oldest boy elk hunting when he was 14 and then last year took both boys bowhunting elk DIY OTC in Colorado and they were ages 14 and 15.

As others have said - it totally depends upon each individual kid - and their parent I might add. As Brad said he spent time building a fire and napping. I found I have to be ready to chill out and let them enjoy the hunt. Last year elk hunting that meant taking 3-4 hours on Saturday and letting them trout fish instead of bowhunting. It made the trip more enjoyable for them. No doubt elk hunting is in a whole different category than whitetails or turkeys - that\'s and understatement.

--Mitch

 

[bnsafe]

both my kids started when they were 7, but wt in mo, not elk. i dont think there is a correct age, but i will say this, it rubs me wrong the state telling me i cant hunt with my kid til hes 12. none of their business as long as im following all the laws.

 

[Ol' Arky]

There is no age restriction in Arkansas... My kids and grandkids grew up in a duck boat and started hunting at a very young age. Don\'t remember how young but somewhere around 5... Most of them killed their 1st duck and deer the 1st or 2nd year they hunted... Most of them are better a shot now than me... :upthumb: :upthumb:

I agree with an older age when elk hunting since it\'s more demanding than setting in a deer stand or duck hunting from an area that is easy to get to..

 

[sn.outdoors]

I was 9 months old the first time my dad took me hunting. Don\'t recall much, but I do know my mom wasn\'t pleased when she developed the film from the old camera and found a picture of my carseat strapped to a tree 15\' up.

I don\'t ever remember a fall where I wasn\'t hunting with my dad. If it were legal to hunt before 12 I certainly would have. If I\'d grown up out west, I\'m sure my dad would have taken me hunting in his backpack.

This fall I\'ll be taking my 3yr old daughter hunting with me now that I live closer to hunting areas.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[elky McElkerson]

seriously depends on the kid.

i have an adult acquaintance i wont take.he is an idiot.

i got my first .22 when i was 11. my parents should have honestly waited a couple of year

 

[bowhunter]

I was 9 months old the first time my dad took me hunting. Don\'t recall much, but I do know my mom wasn\'t pleased when she developed the film from the old camera and found a picture of my carseat strapped to a tree 15\' up.

:lol: Now that\'s starting early......

 

[Ol' Arky]

I went a long way back and found a few pictures of the 2 oldest grand boys and the youngest just recently... I don\'t think we have any pictures of them wrapped in a sleeping bag in the bottom of the boat..

Gadwall whacking with the older grand boys...



1st Mallards for the older grand boys...




Youngest grand boys 1st deer...



They grow up too fast!!!!!

 

[Iron_Will_Eric]

I first went \"hunting\" with my dad when I was about 10 or so. It was the middle of elk bow season and he\'d been gone a few nights and early mornings hunting, and I wanted to see what it was all about! He took me with him one Saturday morning, we hiked up a bit, looked for tracks, smelled for elk, thought about how a mountain lion could ambush an elk walking by, and glassed up some elk a ways away. Of course, I remember wanting to go after them! Some things never change!

Looking back, I\'m sure we didn\'t really have much of a chance with all the noise I was making, and with my limited hiking ability at that age. Also, it was a few years before he would take me again... However, I really appreciated that my dad did take me when he did, as it was a moment I\'ll never forget!